Peptide-Decorated DNA Nanostructures Promote Site-Specific Hydroxyapatite Growth.

The guiding principle for mineralized tissue formation is that mineral growth occurs through the interaction of Ca and phosphate ions with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Recently, nanoengineered DNA structures have been proposed as mimics to ECM scaffolds. However, these principles have not been applied to mineralized tissues.

Uniaxial Hydroxyapatite Growth on a Self-Assembled Protein Scaffold.

Biomineralization is a crucial process whereby organisms produce mineralized tissues such as teeth for mastication, bones for support, and shells for protection. Mineralized tissues are composed of hierarchically organized hydroxyapatite crystals, with a limited capacity to regenerate when demineralized or damaged past a critical size. Thus, the development of protein-based materials that act as artificial scaffolds to guide hydroxyapatite growth is an attractive goal both for the design of ordered nanomaterials and for tissue regeneration.